Items with a star (*) and gray background have been modified from previous record.

Question Number 1:

07/05/2002 - Current

Question

In terms of reporting adoptions it is not clear whether States are required to submit data on adoptions for which an agency may have limited involvement, such as only performing a home study. The agency's data on these adoptions may be very limited. Does the Department want information on such adoptions submitted to AFCARS?

Answer

*The regulations encourage, but do not require, States to report data on children adopted without the types of State involvement indicated in the "Reporting Population" section in Appendix B to 45 CFR 1355. The State is required to report an adoption if : 1) the child was in foster care under the responsiblity and care of the State child welfare agency and subsequently adopted; 2) the child has special needs and on whose behalf the State provided reimbursementfor non-recurring expenses of adoption; or 3) an adoption service or payment is being provided by way of an arrangement with the State agency. Because a State that has performed only a home study does not fall within one of these three categories, the State is not required to report information on such a child. If the State chooses to report information on such a child, or other children adopted without State involvement as indicated above, - the appropriate response is to enter a "No" for adoption element 4 "Did the State Agency Have any Involvement in This adoption?"

In terms of reporting adoptions it is requested that data also be submitted on adoptions for which an agency may have limited involvement, such as performing a home study. The agency's data on these adoptions may be very limited. How are these data handled in terms of completeness and would the Department want such adoptions included in AFCARS reports?

Answer

In situations in which the agency''s involvement with an adoption is not captured by one of the three types of involvement mandated by the regulation found in Appendix B; Section II; the appropriate response is to enter a "No" for Question D., "Did the State Agency Have any Involvement in This Adoption?" which is found in Appendix B; Section I; Roman Numeral I., General Information, (or as it appears in Appendix D''s detailed adoption record layout, Element Number 04) in the regulation. A "No" entry provides that subsequent data entry on the child will not be subject to penalty.